Bills' Mario Williams could give Dolphins' offensive line fits

Miami OTs Jonathan Martin, Tyson Clabo have to find a way to contain Buffalo DE

October 18, 2013|By Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel

DAVIE — When Buffalo defensive end Mario Williams had his franchise-record 4.5 sacks against Carolina last month he put his full arsenal of skills on display.

He attacked from the left side and the right side. He used speed moves and power moves. Once he overpowered his would-be blocker, another time he ran around a would-be blocker and chased down fleet-footed Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. And he did it all with a fury.

The takeaway: Williams, whose eight sacks are tied for third in the NFL, will pose a serious threat to Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins' gameplan on Sunday.

"He's one of the most talented defensive ends in the NFL," Dolphins left tackle Jonathan Martin said. "We played him last year and he's a beast, no question about it."

It's up to Martin and Dolphins right tackle Tyson Clabo, two of the most insightful and cerebral guys on the team, to protect Tannehill. It's an unsettling thought.

"His size and his strength are a rare combination and that makes him pretty special," Clabo said.

For a four-year stretch (2007-10), Williams, while playing for Houston, totaled 43.5 sacks and was considered among the NFL's best defensive players because of his pass-rushing ability.

According to Pro Football Focus, Martin is the 49th-rated offensive tackle and Clabo is 64th. That's among 74 players.

In other words, Williams against either Martin or Clabo is a bad matchup.

Tannehill has already been sacked a NFL-leading 24 times. He's taken 12 of those because of his tackles; Clabo and Martin have given up six sacks apiece. Only Cleveland right tackle Mitchell Schwartz has allowed more (eight).

Clabo, the seven-year veteran who made the Pro Bowl after the 2010 season, and Martin, the Dolphins' second-round pick in 2012, have faced a few upper-level pass rushers this season with disappointing results.

At the very least Tannehill's ball security becomes an issue with all these sacks and hits. He's fumbled six times, tied for second-most in the league. He lost three fumbles.

Tannehill, who briefly appeared on the injury report with a shoulder ailment after the Indianapolis game, said he feels fine physically. The hits, the collapsing pockets, the chaotic backfield; none of it is an issue to Tannehill.

"I'm not worried about it," he said.

Most likely the Dolphins will use a variety of schemes to defend Williams. They'll double-team him with a guard, they'll double-team him with a tight end, they'll use a running back to chip block him.

The key is to find something that works before Buffalo finds something that works. The Bills have opted to move Williams around. That way the defense can't get comfortable.

"Sometimes when you line up and it's just the one spot, you're able to maybe schematically be able to do things," Buffalo coach Doug Marrone said. "Whether it's formationally, or you have the backs chipping, you know where he is.

"I think a lot of times if you're able to move him around just enough, as with any good pass rusher, then it's a little bit more challenging to do that."

But Buffalo, it seems has gone next level with moving Williams.

"Even in this last ball game," Dolphins defensive coordinator Mike Sherman said, "we saw him do a couple things we haven't necessarily seen him do on a regular basis. They're certainly trying to free him up."

That means tight ends and running backs, players who have struggled in pass protection, will have to be alert.

Actually, center Mike Pouncey, left guard Richie Incognito and right guard John Jerry also have to be on alert for Williams. He could come their way.

"They'll put him right over the center, bring him in an 'A' gap, do a lot of different things with him," Tannehill said. "He's definitely a force to be reckoned with, and we're going to have to handle that."

It appears neither Clabo nor Martin is in danger of losing his job. Sherman is candid talking about Clabo.

"He's in a little bit of a rut right now," he said, "but I think he'll work through it and we'll be fine."

There's been no indication backup tackle Will Yeatman or anyone else is being readied to play. So the bulk of the job of defending Williams will fall on Martin and Clabo.

Martin said he looks forward to the challenge.

"He brings a lot to the table — size, speed, physicality," he said. "You've definitely got to put some extra preparation in for him during the week."